Squidoo, Facebook and Myspace Widgets 2.0

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All About Widget 2.0

What is Widget 2.0? Learn the basics of Web Widgets.

Widget 2.0: Preface 

from the Widget-Authority

This may be the first time you have ever heard of Widget 2.0. If it is, you are not alone.

Widget 2.0 is a term I coined from the buzzword Web 2.0 and the recent buzz about tiny snippets of code that can be dropped on any website called Widgets.

Web 2.0 proves we are no longer living in an Internet world of closure and limits. And Widgets are founded on a collaboration of efforts to design free and open source software that encourages cross-website synergy.

Therefore, Widget 2.0 uses the Internet as a platform to propagate an enriching experience across multiple websites for the Internet community as a whole. It is a radical new distribution model fundamentally changing the way content is disseminated on the Web.
 
 


AddThis Social Bookmark Button
addthis.com Widget

This is a StickyNote WIDGET

TO DO LIST:

1. Create a squidoo lens
2. Add GREAT widget content
3. Make a video about Widget 2.0
4. Add more content
5. Show sample widgets
6. Create a Cafe Press store widget
7. Create an Amazon store widget
8. Link to really cool widgets
9. ADD MORE CONTENT!
10. Publish This Lens

"Thanks for voting this lens to be #1 within the SMARTS Internet Marketing Community!"

Widget 1.0: What was it? 

An example of Widget 1.0 would have been something like an animated clock that told the time of day.

The programming script would have been deployed on one web site. That same code would not be available across multiple web sites. Therefore, the same content could not be seen on sites like blogger and myspace simultaneously.

Widget 2.0: Who cares? 

Maybe the question should be, why should I care? According to ComScore's recent Web Widget Metrix, 81% of the United States Internet audience viewed a widget. That's equivalent to around 147 million people. Talk about traffic!


Widgets used on MySpace and Facebook have been viewed by 57 million and 20 million times respectively. If you have a Myspace or Facebook page, you should care that widgets can not only enhance your user's experience but generate traffic and make you money.

What is a widget? 

A simple explanation

In the manufacturing world, a widget is a gadget or a small manufactured item. On the Internet, a widget is defined as a mini Internet application you can put on your personal web page, social networking page, blog or just about anywhere that accepts embedded programming script. It is offered and hosted by a 3rd party web site. It is used to enrich a user's experience through a functional mechanism that displays images, content, ads, traffic counts, and much more. An example of widget 2.0 would be where you, or your friend, or your web page visitor watches a video on your personal web page. Through the process, the user did not have to visit the actual site to watch the video. This same video could also be watched from multiple websites simultaneously.

In Search of the Meaning of Widget 2.0 

My home made video for this squidoo lens

You have to watch this video made just for a contest for this lens. Fresh stuff. The premise is a man who is a self proclaimed "buzzword master" on a quest to learn about widget 2.o.

This video was fun but also eye opening to the real world. I don't understand how the Jamie Kennedy Experiment gets the live shots they produce. I had just purchased a video camera and was in the food court at the galleria mall just testing the camera and we were told by a security guard that we had to turn off the camera and delete whatever test capture we had. Then at the grocery store, we were told to leave. The donut man assured me we were being watched on security cameras. And Borders, well, they were truly open source and didn't say anything. It's a tough road to get shots inside any type of retail store.

Just sit back, relax, watch the movie and laugh. Oh, and there is a blooper reel at the end. Enjoy! Oh, by the way, AJAX is a programming language used to create widgets.

In Search of the Meaning of Widget 2.0

The premise of the video is about a man who is a self proclaimed "buzzword master" on a quest to learn about the new buzzword Widget 2.0.

Runtime: 174
333 views
1 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Widget 2.0 for Dummies 

Just the basics

The core of a widget is a piece of software placed into a blog or MySpace page. Although widgets are not new, they are just now gaining popularity.

If you have ever witnessed a movie trailer in someone's blog then you have just viewed a widget. Another example would be a slideshow widget that lets you show your personal pictures through a small window on your personal web page. Another example would be a sports scoreboard that displays the current scores of sports teams on your web page.

Web page owners therefore enrich a users experience through content publishing. Control therefore moves from the publishing company to the user community at large.

Widget 2.0 for Internet Marketing 

Tools for Internet Marketers

The demand for Internet Marketing widget tools is white hot right now and resources invested here today will be richly rewarded later. An Internet Marketing widget is used as a tool that allows content to be distributed to a potentially large number of websites. Because consumers pick and choose which widgets they want to upload to their personal site, profile page, or blog, they become advocates for the marketer whose content and widgets they help distribute.

Internet Marketers can use widgets to push their topic of interest and help move content through social media with thoroughness and niche specificity. Internet Marketers can now move through viral hubs with acceptance as they are brought into conversations they might not otherwise have access to.

It takes a pro-active approach on the part of the Marketers if they want to continue to connect with their customers.

Widget 2.0 Fear Factor 

The golden egg for first movers

Competition among companies jockeying to get a position on widget branding and use intensifies as their own site becomes less and less important. The fear factor means that as a result of this new content distribution model, companies must worry about more than just their web page.

Getting content on other web pages becomes the marketing objective which now challenges the whole SEO mindset. Companies have to start looking at the Web as a platform as a whole. A community where everybody is connected.

Fun Stuff 

Widget 2.0 promotional

Watch This Cool Widget 2.0 Smiley Animation

Widget 2.0 Design and Development 

Ajax, javascript, flash and more

The design and development of widgets change the basic architecture of the Web. Programmers can develop a widget using any number of programming languages or platforms. The most popular being Macromedia Flash, AJAX, and JavaScript.

When developing a widget, remember to keep the user as the center focus of your design. You want a widget that is desirable enough to be considered a reward to the user and in so doing, your content will be widely distributed around the Web. Their are sites like Yahoo Widgets and Widgetbox that provide a means for anyone looking to develop their own widget.

Widget 2.0 TOS Violations 

Myspace Widget Restrictions

There are considerations as to the type of widget that can be allowed on certain web sites like MySpace and Facebook. If a widget violates the terms of service set forth by MySpace for instance, MySpacee will block the widget.

According to MySpace, "Breaches would include any person, widget or software that violates copyright, poses security risks, distributes pornography or engages in commercial activity. Commercial activity includes selling ads on a MySpace page through their widget or software." Third party providers must develop widgets to be user content focused and not a means to sell ads on the web site.

Widget 2.0 Geek Speak 

A W3C technical description

According to W3C documentation, Widgets are a class of client-side web application for displaying and/or updating local or remote data, packaged in a way to allow a single download and installation on a client machine or device.

Widget 2.0 Must Have Widgets 

Some great widget sites

Bookmark This Widget
AddThis spreads your content across the Web by making it easier for your visitors to bookmark and share it with other people, again and again and again. Simple yet powerful widget is very easy to install and provides valuable statistics about the bookmarking and sharing activity of your users. AddThis is the perfect tool to help your visitors create a buzz for your site and increase its popularity and ranking.
M.O.B. Widget (Massive Online Buying)
An eSellStuff.com M.O.B. Widget is used to communicate the status of an item for sale anywhere, anytime on the Internet and it includes inventory control and expiration of the offer control to the seller.
Snap Shots
Snap Shots is the world's most popular way to give your users a more fun and interactive experience on your site or blog. Now with Snap Shares, you can monetize inventory you didn't know you had. It's a complete system designed to help you get more from your site.
Feed Flare
FeedFlare allows publishers to easily build "interactivity" into the content they create, making it simple for subscribers to tag, email or share their content with others. Publishers can include a variety of services including a live display of the number of comments to each post, the ability to email the author directly and show the number of blogs that link to their item. Publishers can choose to include FeedFlare within the feed itself as well as on their blog or site.
Take a Poll on Your Web Page
With your free account from PollDaddy you can now create surveys and polls for your website, blog and social network profiles. Find out what your visitors are thinking today. Create your surveys and polls using their custom templates or create your own. Use their in-depth reporting engine to aggregate, print and export your results.
Twitter - Stay Connected
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

I Use Widgets For.... 

Take this Polldaddy Widget poll

POLLDADDY WIDGET

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Top Web Widget Viewing Audiences 

Courtesy of comScore Widget Metrix

TOP 10 LIST:
  1. MySpace.com - 31.7%
  2. Slide.com - 21.5%
  3. Clearspring.com - 21.5%
  4. RockYou.com - 17.9%
  5. Photobucket.com - 14.5%
  6. Google.com - 10.7%
  7. BunnyHeroLabs.com - 8.8%
  8. MusicPlaylist.us - 8.7%
  9. MyPlaylist.org - 8.5%
  10. BlingyBlob.com - 8.2%

Cost of the War in Iraq Widget 

Example of an Animated Trivia Widget

Widgets should communicate the same data or content across all websites at the same time.

SAMPLE WIDGET


Cute and Fun Widgets Can Be Added to Your Web Page 

The cat that rocks around the clock!

Widgets that make you smile!




Get the Random Funny Cats! widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox!

PR Newswire Business News & Video Widget 

Great PR Newswire Feed Widget

SAMPLE WIDGET

Motor Trend Photo Gallery 

Widget for car enthusiasts

SAMPLE WIDGET

New Politics Today NBC News Widget 

Widgets for Political Buffs

SAMPLE WIDGET

US National Debt 

National Debt WIDGET

SAMPLE WIDGET

Sunday Night Football Matchup 

Sunday Night Football WIDGET

SAMPLE WIDGET

Some Really Cool Widget Samples 

Check out these widgets

Sample Widgets Link Here

For current National Geographic Photo and Weather Bug Widget and much more.

A Contest Entry for the Snap Shots Widget

How To Make Money With MySpace And Facebook Widgets? 

Goldmine opportunities using free widgets

Recently, social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook have become goldmines for advertisers and online businesses. Considering the kind of traffic these sites experience on a daily basis - MySpace is ahead seeing more than 105 million users while Facebook sees roughly 35-40 million users. However, the growth of Facebook users has been much more rapid than MySpace, thanks to the presence of 'widgets'.

Widgets can draw visitors to your site, helping you generate sales and profits in case you happen to be involved in online marketing. Myspace or Yahoo widgets, of which many are free widgets, are developed and distributed by many independent software developers. Facebook has something like 8000 widgets today. Widgets work like software programs. And some of the more popular ones help you customize your user profile on these websites. Widgets are interactive and fun and users can make money from them. For the user, widgets add attractiveness to the page with picture slideshows, games, polls, news, financial insights, etc. Some free widgets used on MySpace and Facebook let you share videos, games, and music.

There are several online resources where you can choose Myspace widgets or Yahoo widgets that can be added to your web page or profile enabling you to host videos, share photos, etc. One such widget is the Super Wall on Facebook, which is a message board being used by something like twelve million Facebook users.

The main thing about free widgets is that they can drive massive traffic to your web page, and of course they are free. Getting exposure to your web page is the goal of any online marketing. Users download these free widgets all the time, competing with each other to have as many as are possible.

Developers can also make money from Myspace and Facebook widgets. For the widget developer, money comes in the form of advertising. Since widgets can be tracked, you can have targeted advertising focused on the users of these widgets.

Some free widgets come in the form of banner ads and when they are clicked, the viewer is just a click away from buying. Buying and selling takes on a new meaning at eSellStuff.com.

There are free widgets like Visual Bookshelf where users can import covers of books they are currently reading or want to read. When you click the cover of a book, you want to read, you get redirected to Amazon.com where you can buy it. The person who listed the widget on their web page gets a commission for the sale. You can make money with MySpace and Facebook widgets both as a user and as a developer.

Widget 2.0 Apparel Has Arrived. 

Widgets are Sexy! Show Someone You Care!

In Love With My Widget w/ Smiley

In Love With My Widget w/ Smiley

Leave this one for the bedroom.

Classic Thong

Price: 7.99Buy Now

Wanna See My Widget -2.0-

Wanna See My Widget -2.0-

Who isn't proud of their widget?

Fitted T-Shirt

Price: 15.99Buy Now

Ask Me About My Widget

Ask Me About My Widget

Take the conversation to a whole new level of intelligence!

Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt

Price: 15.99Buy Now

She Loves Widget 2.0!

She Loves Widget 2.0!

Who doesn't Love a better widget?

Boxer Shorts

Price: 12.99Buy Now

I Love My Widget w/ Smiley saying NOT FOR SALE!

I Love My Widget w/ Smiley saying NOT FOR SALE!

Of course you love your widget!

Women's Light T-Shirt

Price: 14.99Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

What Are Mashup Widgets? 

Mash and Smash for Cash

With the web becoming more participative, interactive and customizable, it has given rise to enhanced integration of various online resources into a sort of one-stop source with portability - namely mashup widgets.

A mashup is the result of a combination of several web services. An example of a mashup widget is the combination of Google Maps and renting sites, showing you where houses are available for rent. In another mashup of Google Maps and Twitter, you can view a world map along with updates from people who post to their blogs on Twitter. You can see a map of the world and updates from people as they post micro-blogs to Twitter. The interesting part is that the map will show you where each person is located as they Twitter.

Yet another example is "Smash" which is a mashup of the websites Digg, Slashdot, and Techcrunch. Smash combines the RSS feeds from these sites into one, and delivers the content to your desktop through the Yahoo Widget Engine.

Originally, mashups were common in the music world where you'd see DJ's mixing music to come up with completely new remixes. Now you can see mashups in a variety of areas like maps, images and videos. Mashups are extremely useful since you get to see information in a whole new way. Rather than go through the yellow pages and tediously find addresses of medical stores in your locality, with a mashup that uses a map application integrating addresses so that you can visually see where your nearest medical store is on the map. When you click on this location, you will get more information.

Merging information has been made possible by websites like Amazon, Yahoo, eBay and Google who give access to their data so that developers can create applications that are trendy and fun.

Some interesting links are:
Travel The World Mashup
Global City Ratings Mashup

Quite a few of these mashup gadgets and widgets are free. Invariably you will find them featuring links and logos to advertise the website from where you get them.

Widgetbox is among the biggest repositories of mashup widgets where they let you browse their widgets to add to your blog, website or profile, and also create your own widgets quickly.

Vote for Your Favorite Book 

Free Event Countdown Timer Widgets and How They are Used 

Learn about countdown timer widgets

Countdown timer widgets are useful tools which help you keep track of the time and count down till the event scheduled. These are usually used to set the time until a baby is due, until the day of a marriage, until the New Year, Valentine's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving - in short any event that is important to you.

There are plenty of widgets like Myspace countdown timers and other free countdown timers that you can download and embed on your blog, webpage or social profile.

The generic simple event countdown timers let you set the time in hours, minutes, seconds etc. and an alarm sounds when the counter reaches zero.

Countdown timers are highly customizable and you can choose the font, the skin and display type. With these widgets, you input the date of the event some time in the future. A variety of Myspace countdown timers let you schedule multiple events at different intervals.

There is a huge choice of holiday countdown timers that you can use. For example, you can have a New Year's countdown timer to count down until New Years day. While awaiting the holidays, many people enjoy adding a Christmas countdown timer depicting a Christmas Tree on their desktop.

Free countdown timers are also available as flash widgets that display the time remaining until the scheduled event. These can be shown on your website to tell your visitors how much time is left before an offer expires, or on your desktop as a reminder for important events. You can even play audio on the event scheduled. Some free countdown timers also display milliseconds.

The "TimeLeft" widget is a very flexible desktop tool that you can use as an event countdown timer, as a reminder, a clock, a stopwatch, auction watch and much more. This widget uses your system's Winamp skins to display numeric and text. This flash widget can be installed on your website. It has interesting themes so you can use it as a fun Valentine's day countdown timer, 4th of July countdown timer, Easter countdown timer, etc. In fact you can add Christmas carols, Jingle Bells, and more to play on your free countdown timer each hour.

Videos on Web 2.0 and Widgets 

Watch a few and learn about web 2.0 and widgets


The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version)

Runtime: 273
1136727 views
1261 Comments:


Web 2.0

Runtime: 317
514528 views
286 Comments:


What is Web 2.0?

Runtime: 180
199868 views
196 Comments:


Tim O'Reilly on What is Web 2.0?

Runtime: 50
68503 views
34 Comments:


Frank Gruber Intro myAOL at Widget Summit 2007

Runtime: 356
295 views
0 Comments:


Graffiti: Facebook Widget Review

Runtime: 119
4538 views
5 Comments:


Blog Rush Widget Tutorial. Blog Rush For Free Download

Runtime: 182
493 views
1 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Widget 2.0 In Poetry 

A poem about the M.O.B. Widget

R
umor has it that the Great M.O.B. Widget is alive. Could it be true?

Some have said that the Great M.O.B. Widget is only a myth, a legend, an old tale,

Created by a misunderstood genius and a mad java programmer.

Who knows, maybe it is true? Maybe the widget IS real and IS alive.

The Great M.O.B. Widget is known to have single handedly taken down great empires.

Empires bigger, faster, stronger and more wealthy.

Strongholds that monopolize and dominate markets with a single leap.

If it were alive today, the Great M.O.B. Widget would be welcomed!

Social networks would rave about it, the red carpet would be rolled out!

Bloggers would feverishly write about it.Emails would contain it.

Forums would use it and website owners would want it.

Oh, but it was proclaimed that the Great M.O.B. Widget was killed.

Pundits have been proclaiming its death for years.

Google adsense tried to bury it, PayPal never understood it and eBay was scared of it.

However, recent tremors across the Internet suggest the Great M.O.B. Widget is back,

Having transformed itself into a more powerful, more versatile,

More useful, more dynamic, and more nomadic widget than ever before.

In the wrong hands, it could mean disaster.

If it were just true!MySpace users would get all of their friends involved.

Facebook members would rejoice and bloggers would make more money.

Ebay addicts would be delivered and Craig's list sellers would sell stuff faster.

A supply and demand paradigm shift would occur,

And the Massive Online Buying Widget would be our hero!

**********************************************************
Myspace countdown timers are one of the most searched items on the Internet.

SAMPLE WIDGET



eSellStuff.com Grand Opening
Sell It Anywhere... Sell It Now!

(M.O.B. Squad Launch is April 30, 2008)

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by Widget-Authority

I live in York, PA. I'm an avid runner and fitness chump and I love to play flag football. I've been programming for 15 years and have recently joine... (more)

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